The points of issue
'First Edition' stated on the copyright page; dust jacket priced. Reed's first novel.
Is this the true first?
True first is the 1967 Doubleday hardcover. The UK edition (MacGibbon & Kee) followed in 1968.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Doubleday book-club issues of the period carry a blind-stamp to the rear board and lack a jacket price; not the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of The Free-Lance Pallbearers a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: 'First Edition' stated on the copyright page; dust jacket priced. Reed's first novel.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. True first is the 1967 Doubleday hardcover. The UK edition (MacGibbon & Kee) followed in 1968.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
Doubleday book-club issues of the period carry a blind-stamp to the rear board and lack a jacket price; not the true first.
I have a first edition of The Free-Lance Pallbearers — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.